[TL-Directors] Native American Library Services Basic Grants - Now Open! - Deadline March 13

[NIELSEN Buzzy * SLO]

FYI, folks, the Institute of Museum and Library Services has opened the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2026 cycle for Native American Library Services Basic Grants. Congress has not yet passed a FFY 2026 budget, but this is an indication that IMLS feels confident they will be funded this year.

All Tribes eligible for this grant that apply typically receive it. Please note that your Tribe does not need to have something you refer to as a “library” to apply. As noted in the list under “eligibility,” you could have a career center, youth reading program, archive, or other library-adjacent services that make you eligible.

If you have questions about this grant, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m happy to walk you through things as best I can.

Cheers!

Buzzy Nielsen, MPP, MSI (he/him/his)
Tribal Liaison and Program Manager for Library Support
State Library of Oregon
buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:buzzy.nielsen at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-375-3486 (text ok)
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>

[Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon]<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>






Open now. Deadline March 13, 2026.
Native American Library Services: Basic Grants | Institute of Museum and Library Services<https://www.imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs/native-american-library-services-basic-grants?utm_campaign=&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=20260113&utm_source=govdelivery>


Deadline: March 13, 2026
Application: The FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)<https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/2026-01/fy26-ols-nab-NOFO.pdf> (PDF, 629KB) is now available. 
Grant Amount: $6,000 - $10,000
Grant Period: One year
Cost Share Requirement: None
Program Overview: The Native American Basic Grants (NAB) program assists eligible Native Communities in establishing, sustaining, and improving library services and operations with their communities. As information needs change, Tribal libraries must be able to serve as knowledge and resource centers to benefit their users and the wellness of their communities. The NAB program supports Native Communities across the country to address their individual information needs and priorities.
Program Goal: Improve library and archival services for accessing, learning, and preserving information with the community through the following objectives:

  *   Support the acquisition of library-related materials;
  *   Support programming for identified community priorities;
  *   Support training for library staff; or
  *   Support project activities that include aspects of two or more of the objectives listed above.
Eligibility: To be eligible for an award, your Native Community must be Federally recognized and offer library and/or archival services to the community. Such services may include, but are not limited to providing free access to:

  *   books, print and electronic media;
  *   research databases;
  *   job, employment, and career resources;
  *   reference desk services;
  *   space for reading, studying, and meeting; and
  *   events and activities such as programs, classes, and cultural events for all ages.
For the purposes of funding eligibility for Native Communities under this program, IMLS adheres to the criteria in our statute which utilizes the defined term “Indian Tribe”. 20 U.S.C. § 9161. “Indian Tribe” (or “Tribe” or “Native Community”) means “any tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska native village, regional corporation, or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.)), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.”  Id. at § 9101(5).
The Bureau of Indian Affairs publishes updated lists of Federally recognized Tribal and Native entities in the Federal Register. This list is periodically updated; the following link list was published to the Federal Register on December 11, 2024, list of Federally recognized Tribes in the Federal Register<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/11/2024-29005/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of>.
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for details on eligibility for this program.
Applications involving partnerships or collaborations are welcome so long as the Tribe is the lead applicant. Potential partners can include other departments within the Tribe or Native Entity, Tribal colleges and universities, school libraries, or local non-Tribal libraries and non-profits. If the Tribe collaborates with a partner, the Tribe must meet all eligibility requirements, serve as the lead applicant, and administer the award on behalf of the other(s).
Program Contact: If you have questions, please contact imls-librarygrants at imls.gov<mailto:imls-librarygrants at imls.gov>
*All grant programs are subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion.


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/tl-directors/attachments/20260113/1ba9f757/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 19516 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/tl-directors/attachments/20260113/1ba9f757/attachment.png>